If you are going on holiday this Summer, whether skiing, backpacking or simply seeking relaxation in the sun, it is important to be insured. However, you want to make sure that your money is well spent, and should you need to make a claim, your insurance provider will support you, and it is not always easy to determine good insurers from bad.

Now that most insurance providers offer their policies online, it is easy to compare them. However, the sheer number of companies selling insurance can make the process confusing.

Many providers seem to promise the Earth for extremely low prices and it is often difficult to see the differences in cover between different policies.

Generally, if something looks to good to be true then it is. Very cheap policies offering great benefits are likely also to contain a long list of exclusions - situations where the insurance won't apply - as well as charging a large amount of excess, on top of the policy premium that you have already paid, when you go to make a claim.

We recommend that you look for advice about your policy provider before you purchase your insurance. Consumer forums online can be useful; you can visit them to see what other customers of that insurer have had to say about its level of service.

A reputable insurance company, which owns AA Travel Insurance, Go Travel Insurance and 1Stop Travel Insurance, is Drakefield Insurance Services Limited. Established in 1998, the company and its subsidiaries have won a number of awards for their services and easy-to-use websites.

Visit any of the Drakefield Group companies online and receive a free quote for your travel insurance, whatever your needs. If you wish to tailor a policy or have an existing medical problem which may affect your cover, then you can also call their telecommunications teams, who will be able to give you friendly and comprehensive advice.